Light change

[hrdneglcry]

So after a mistake of adding epsom salt over a year ago all of my corals died. I run 3 maxspect 165 w ethereals on a 180 gallon. I have had a hair algae problem. I was at the local fish store and asked about it because I have been culturing phytoplankton to out compete the algae. But he suggested I not run the 3 lights on 100% but 40%. So I have dialed them back. I also have an Ethereal over my Mangroves in the sump. And at the base there was also hair algae. So I cut that back to 40% also. Just posting for opinion or to see at what percent you run your lights. The Epsom salt was because a fish could not pass his waste and I was desperate. It did not work. I followed the formula but it made the salinity go very high. And oddly enough it took a massive amount of water changes just to get the salinity to normal. Over 100%. And all of the corals died.

 

[Kooma]

Your lights aren’t the issue, you have a nutrient and export problem. Do you have any tangs? I just bought a system with 3 tangs in a 150, his phos was 1.06 and not a spec of hair algae anywhere. I gave them a rock from another tank that was covered, it was clean in an hour.

Put in 1 cup of GFO in a media bag or reactor if you have no corals and buy a pin cushion urchin. It will take a few months but it will get under control itself, you’re likely dealing with phosphate soaked rocks.

Once it’s under control, corals can help maintain the levels. I had a tank at 35 nitrate and .6 phos, GFO, urchin and time, it sits at 3ppm nitrate and 0.04 phos.

Go slow, test often.